February 29

What Follows Us

Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever. — Ps 23:6 BSB

A devout poet sings:
Lord, when thou
Puttest in my time a day,
as thou dost now,
Unknown in other years, grant, I entreat,
Such grace illumine it, that whate’er its phase
It add to holiness, and lengthen praise!

This day comes but once every four years... Up until now, goodness and mercy, like two guardians, have followed us day by day, bringing up the rear even as grace leads the way; and since this unusual day is one of the days of our life, these two guardian angels will be with us today as well. Goodness to supply our needs and mercy to blot out our sins—these two shall attend every step we take this day and every day until days shall be no more. Therefore, let us serve the Lord on this unique day with a special dedication of heart and sing His praises with greater enthusiasm and sweetness than ever. Could we not today make an extraordinary offering to God’s work or to the poor? Let us, by the creativity of love, make this February 29th a day to remember forever.